Psalm 7 - Motive

The best leadership book I’ve read in five years is “Leadership and Self Deception” by The Arbinger Institute. While it’s title is very revealing, hidden inside are self exploring scenarios that ring amazingly true and give surprising insight to areas we are often blind too. It’s amazing how much we fail to look inward for hidden deficiencies when evaluating leadership, whether it’s in our church or secular organization.

Why is that? Is it fear or pride? Are we really that ignorant or in denial? Or is it that we really just don’t want to know or deal with our private issues that spawn from personal insecurities, perspectives, wounds, inabilities and/or nurture? In leadership, there’s a huge difference between those who want to know and those who don’t. One thing worse than being ignorant, is to be ignorant of our ignorance. It’s revealed in whether or not we lead (or even live) in honesty and confidence, or insecurity and fear. It’s no different in our faith journey.

A scripture that is often misused is found in Proverbs 16. Verse 3 says, “commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” This verse is commonly used in a “name it and claim it” kind of a way. If we don’t really know what to do, then just ask God to bless it and He will (or at least we hope that He will).

This is not the point of this scripture. Instead, this scripture is a great measuring stick of motive. If we cannot truly commit or dedicate a decision in full disclosure to our God, then it’s a great indicator that something is wrong. Vs. 2 says that, “All man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” And vs. 4 closes the thought by stating, “The Lord works out everything for his own ends…”

David is using this same logic in measuring motive in Psalm 7.

“O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands - if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe - then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.” - Psalm 7:3-5

David is being heart level honest before God. Are we? Not that often. When was the last time we said, “God if my motive is not completely pure here… then just burn me up right now, let me get what I deserve.”

It’s critical that in order to be honest with God, we must search our own hearts and be honest with ourselves. Who are we really fooling? It’s not God. It’s only our selves and others around us.

When we live and lead in ignorance, we hurt those around us, in leadership we hurt our staff and those involved with our organization. In faith, the circle of hurt is closer and bigger than we know. We hurt our spouses, our children, our friends, our coworkers… and ourselves.

Father, I can’t pray like David. Instead, I have to ask today that I don’t get what I deserve. I do pray that you search my heart and show me the ways that I choose self over you, but I ask for your continued Grace and Mercy. Thank you for your plan of redemption. Thank you for reconciling us through Your Son. Thank you for your patience. Amen.

2 Sam 16 - Throwing Stones

When I was a teenager growing up in western Colorado, we used to spend our summer days on the Colorado River. Most of the time we’d tie inner-tubes together with rope and float for miles to a downstream destination where we had dropped a friends jeep or truck earlier in the day. It was always a place strategically picked out for a day of swimming, jumping from bridges, and listening to loud music with the fella’s.

Along the way we would often find ourselves stopping, rummaging around, and quite often it ended in someone eventually picking up a rock and throwing it “near” another person. The initial act was typically intended to simply splash the other person, but it always escalated. Many times into full on, long distance, rock fight. We were never serious, always laughing, and we never really tried to hit each other (although an accidental hit on a leg or arm was quite often the only way the ridiculous testosterone driven activity would ever end). Luckily, no one ever got hit in the head. We were simply idiots. We had no idea what we were really risking. And there was simply no intentionality behind our senseless pitching of the stones.

Projecting a rock at someone was a very significant act in Biblical times. We see them come with words (cursing) and accusation in the New Testament. But they are based on Old Testament law and the judgment that would follow certain sins. It usually ended in death. Obviously we don’t see an official “stoning” taking place in 2 Samuel, not even close, but the symbolism is there through the cursing and throwing of stones by Shemei.

“Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head." 2 Samuel 16:9

David is in an interesting position here. While his men are ready to fight to the death in defending his honor, instead he replies with a new attitude reflecting a new perspective.

“But the king said, "What do you and I have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD said to him, 'Curse David,' who can ask, 'Why do you do this?' " 2 Samuel 16:10

The King of yesteryear would have cut Shemei’s head off himself. But David recognizes that he is experiencing the fruit of his sin. And he is hopeful that how he reacts to even this ridiculous moment might somehow create an opportunity to be reconciled with God.

“David then said to Abishai and all his officials, "My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today." 2 Samuel 16:11-12

Whether David was right or not and whether or not Shemei was acting from a word from the Lord to “throw stones”, David’s heart was leaning in the right direction. For the first time we see a warriors heart denied. David recognizes that the hand of God is distant from him, he sees the fruit, and he is willing to not only deny himself but also search for anything that might represent the movement of God.

The place of searching is a good place to be.